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6224500 tn?1388947668

Can autoimmunity cause adrenal issues or vice versa?

Hi, I am a 28yr old girl and I have recently been diagnosed for what appears to be Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. These are the results of all blood tests I have had done:

January 2013

TSH: 0.69 (0.27-4.2)
Anti-TPO antibodies: 84,000 (<34)

May 2013

TSH: 22 (0.27-4.2)
FT4: 10.9 (12-22) - Thyroxine was started at 75mcg per day.

August 2013

TSH: 4 (0.27-4.2)
FT4: Not tested - Thyroxine increased to 125mcg
Ferritin: 15ug/L (30-400) - Iron supplements were started at 210mg.

November 2013

TSH: 4.3 (0.27-4.2)
FT4: 15.3 (12-22) - Thyroxine increased to 150mcg.
FT3: 5.5 (3.1-6.8)

December 2013

TSH: 4.6 (0.27-4.2)
FT4: 15.6 (12-22)
Anti-TPO antibodies: 41,000 (<34)
Ferritin: 21 (30-400)
Vitamin D: 43.6 (<75) - Started Vitamin D supplements.
Folate: 4.1 (4.6-18.7)

My doctor has referred me to an endocrinologist as they have diagnosed me with hypothyroidism due to me having mainly raised TSH levels, however I have not gained any weight - if anything I've been losing weight and I have not experienced hair loss or a goitre. I have had a goitre in the past but it went down on its own. I suffer from constipation, fatigue, weak and achy muscles and a recent question that was answered by a very helpful person on here suggested I could have adrenal issues.

I also think I have adrenal issues as I've been getting aches and pains in the back of my flank areas, nausea and a feeling of weakness/fatigue. I already feel fatigued anyway but it's more pronounced when I get the flank pain and nausea. Looking up adrenal fatigue on other sites I decided to test my blood pressure once when sitting and once when standing to check for a drop in blood pressure. I've only tested it once but I do occasionally get postural and orthostatic hypotension when standing from a sitting/lying position.
These are the results:

Test 1 - sitting

Systolic: 143
Diastolic: 84
Pulse: 73

Test 2 - standing

Systolic: 138
Diastolic: 87
Pulse: 60

Other things that have been ruled out include diabetes and celiac disease, both of which have come back negative.
The only other thing that has come back positive is Anti-Nuclear Antibodies but my doctor is not concerned about this as she believes it's down to the autoimmune response I have going on at present.

Would an endocrinologist check for adrenal issues? Have I got any adrenal issues at all or should I give the blood pressure measurements a few more tries? I really don't know what else I can do about this as I've been gorging on a lot of food and my body gets rid of it somehow. I'm 5'3" and weigh 7 stone 10/108lbs/49kg.

Thanks for any help and hope all who see/reply to this have a merry Christmas.

Jo x
2 Responses
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6224500 tn?1388947668
Hi Niko,

I've done the Dr Barnes Basal temperature tests for October, November and December but how do I post them? I have a temperature tracker on Medhelp or is it easier to post them in another reply?

With the adrenal questionnaire, was that from Dr Wilson's site? I filled that out and got the scores for them if need be.

Umm, yes...with the Adrenal fatigue and endocrinologist thing...I was just basically updating with more info seeing as I did a blood pressure measurement and I was wondering if the hypertension would be down to adrenal issues. So yes, I agree with you on the naturapathy stuff.

Thanks

Jo x
Helpful - 0
1530171 tn?1448129593
Jo, please post your temperature results from your Dr. Barnes Basal temperature test.
There's a specific range consistent with low adrenal function.

Also I have an adrenal questionnaire I can send you if you want.
It's like a screening pre-test. Let me know.

The answer to your question is yes and yes.
Low Adrenal function and adrenal imbalance can lead to A/I symptoms and conditions when there's organ and body system(s) involvement (which is usually the case) and the stress dealing with A/I symptoms and conditions on a chronic basis can lead to adrenal fatigue or adrenal exhaustion.

An Endocrinologist may not be able to diagnose Adrenal fatigue because it is NOT ????? recognized by conventional Endocrinology until it becomes a crisis, a little too late, as the roast in the oven is already burnt!!!!!
We have probably "talked" about this in the recent past.

I feel you're on the right track.
You're so young and you deserve to get your life back.

Love & Light
Niko

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